Card game

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for assembling one or more coherent images from a plurality of segments of the coherent image reproduced on parts, pieces, blocks, cards, or the like is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the face of each segment includes a portion of the resulting single coherent image. When all segments are correctly arranged and stacked, or overlapped, with the correct orientation, the visible images on the faces of the segments mesh to form one or more larger coherent images. A variety of plates or stands are disclosed to aid the player in stacking the segments and arranging them with the proper orientation during the reassembly process. Additionally, information or images may be included on the portions of the faces of each segment that are obscured by other segments when the segments are properly assembled, thereby allowing such games to have multiple uses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method andapparatus for playing a game and displaying said game. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatusfor playing a game that requires the player to assemble a set of cardsto form an image, wherein said cards may optionally be assembled atop anapparatus that aids proper positioning and assembly of said cards, aswell as display of the assembled cards.

Many systems and methods have been created to provide people withentertainment via puzzles and games that involve puzzles. Many suchsystems and methods involve reassembly of segments of an image torecreate an overall image. In its most simplistic form, some suchsystems and methods include reassembling square segments atop a supportsurface to create an image. One such system includes a support surfaceupon which the desired image (i.e., the image that is created when thepuzzle is complete) is imprinted or otherwise placed to help theassembler properly piece together the puzzle. In some such systems,cards containing rectangular segments of the image are arranged on thesupport surface in rows and columns until the image depicted on thesupport surface is recreated. Alternatively, the cards may be arrangedatop a surface other than the support surface. In this scenario, use ofthe support surface may be omitted or such surface may serve only as amemory aid. Additionally, the cards incorporated in such games mayinclude a picture of the intended image on the back of the card to allowcards related to different puzzles to be distinguished from one another.

Similar games incorporating a support surface exist in which the cardsmay be affixed or held in place by the support surface. In some suchgames, the cards may be secured to the support surface by inserting theminto slots included within the support surface. Some such games areassembled by first inserting the appropriate cards into the respectiveslots in the top row of each column. Thereafter, cards are inserted intothe respective slots of the lower rows of each column such that theyoverlap the previously inserted cards. The resulting overall image iscreated from the visible portions of the inserted cards (i.e., theportions of the cards that are not overlapped by adjacent cards).

Some existing games require players to disassemble one or more puzzles.One such game includes an assembled puzzle image hidden behind anassembled concealing puzzle, wherein the concealing puzzle includessmaller puzzle pieces than the hidden puzzle. In one form, the hiddenpuzzle image is concealed by a puzzle that contains its own distinctimage. In this game, the players take turns removing randomly selectedpieces of the concealing puzzle to reveal portions of the concealedpuzzle image. When one of the game players correctly guesses theconcealed puzzle image, the game is ended and this player is deemed thewinner. In more complex versions of such games, the winner mustcorrectly answer a question contained in the concealed puzzle image inaddition to identifying the puzzle image.

Another similar game that requires players to disassemble one or moreconcealing puzzles includes a specific method for removing the pieces ofsuch a puzzle. In one such game, the pieces of the concealing puzzle aresquare or rectangular, opaque pieces that lie atop a transparent windowthat protects the surface of the concealed image. Additionally, eachpiece of the concealing puzzle is color-coded, wherein each colorcorresponds to a category of questions. To play this game, players taketurns choosing pieces of the concealing puzzle. After a player selects apiece, the respective player is asked a question that corresponds to thequestion category associated with the color of the selected puzzlepiece. If the player correctly answers the question, the puzzle piece isremoved, revealing a portion of the concealed image. Each playercontinues to take a turn until one of the players correctly identifiesthe concealed image, thereby winning the game. In some such games, eachpiece of the concealing puzzle is assigned a monetary value based on itscolor to allow the players to earn points as the game progresses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus and methods for assembling or reassembling one or morecoherent images from a plurality of segments of the coherent image,wherein said segments are reproduced on parts, pieces, blocks, cards, orthe like, are provided in one aspect of the present invention. In oneembodiment of the present invention, a set of cards such as, but notlimited to, a traditional deck of cards, is provided such that the faceof each card includes a portion of a single coherent image. When aplayer arranges each of the cards of the set in the correct overlappingorder with the correct orientation, the images on the visible portionsof the card faces mesh together to form one or more larger coherentimages. Optionally, such cards may be fixed in an immovable position toallow the resulting image to be displayed.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the topmost card (i.e.,the card that lies on top of all other cards when the final coherentimage has been achieved) contributes the entire face of the topmost cardto the resulting coherent image, whereas all other cards (e.g., the basecard and intermediate cards) contribute only a portion of the face ofthe respective card to the final resulting image. That is, the portionsof the base and intermediate cards that are not visible in the resultingcoherent image are obscured by the overlapping edges of adjacent cards.In this embodiment of the present invention, all cards except thetopmost card include only a small and unique portion of the finalcomplete image. Consequently, the topmost card is unique in that itcontributes its entire face to the resulting image making itscontribution to such image much greater than the intermediate and basecards. Starting assembly of the cards with the base card and completingsuch assembly with the topmost card provides the player with thegreatest sense of accomplishment upon completion of the assembly sincethe topmost card includes the most significant portion of the resultingimage.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the face of each cardincludes a unique portion of the resulting single coherent image. Thatis, no two cards of the set of cards include exactly the same image. Insuch embodiments of the present invention, the method of assembling orreassembling the resulting coherent image that is provided by thepresent invention requires simply starting with the base card (i.e., thecard that lies beneath all other cards when the final coherent image hasbeen achieved) and matching each adjacent card on a one-by-one basisuntil all intermediate and topmost cards have been assembled, therebyachieving the final resulting image.

Although no two cards include identical images in the aforementionedembodiment of the present invention, alternate, more complex embodimentsof the present invention are envisioned in which the images located onthe faces of each card, or portions thereof, are wholly or partiallyduplicated to make it more or less difficult for the player to matchadjacent, overlapping cards. In other words, in these embodiments, theremay exist more than one card that appears to match another card, and theplayer will have to match several other subsequent cards before learningthat the originally selected card was incorrect. Such embodiments areintended to increase the enjoyment for more experienced players of thepresent invention. In either of the aforementioned embodiments, thecards are matched solely by side-by-side matching of randomly selectedcards until the correct card is discovered (i.e., the visual informationon the card aligns in the correct relative format to the visualinformation included on the previous card with no overlapping oromission of the visual image).

In one optional aspect of the present invention, the portions of thecard faces that are obscured by the overlapping edges of adjacent cardswhen the card assembly is complete are imprinted or otherwise markedwith information or images either related or unrelated to the resultingcoherent image. In one such embodiment, the obscured portions of thecard faces include complete or partial segments of the final resultingimage that are intended to increase or decrease the complexity ofmatching adjacent, overlapping cards. For example, the portion of thecard faces that are visible in the resulting image may be extended toform a complete image that encompasses the entire face of the card. Insuch an embodiment, all intermediate and base cards are similar to thetopmost card in that the entire face of the card includes an image,however, the images vary, at least slightly, from card to card.

Since the image on each card is created from the visible segment of theimage when all cards are assembled, the images on adjacent cards mayoverlap. This overlap provides clues that a player may use whenperforming side-by-side matching of the cards since the more similarimages are located closer to each other in the final arrangement.Additionally, the level of difficulty of assembling the final coherentimage may be increased or decreased by adjusting the quantity ofduplicated information on adjacent cards. However, many embodiments ofthe present invention do not require any evaluation of the card facesother than the side-by-side comparison discussed herein. In suchembodiments, comparison of the quantity of duplicated information onadjacent cards serves as an aide to assembling the final coherent image,but is not a requirement thereof.

In embodiments of the present invention that include full images on thefaces of each card in the deck, any of the cards may be chosen to be thebase card. In such embodiments, each time a different base card isselected, a different rotation of the coherent image results. Thisrotation causes the topmost card to change, which in turn may greatlychange the appearance of the final coherent image, thereby allowing aplayer to replay the game many times without boredom since a differentresult is achieved each time. Each time a different base card isselected, a different topmost card results.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention are envisioned in whichthe obscured portion of the card faces include other information notrelated to the final resulting image. For example, in one embodiment ofthe present invention, fifty-four cards are included in the set and theobscured portion of each of the cards, with the exception of the topmostcard, includes information related to a respective card of a standarddeck. In other words, the totality of the cards includes two jokers aswell as the four standard suits in a typical deck of cards (i.e.,diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs), wherein each of the latterincludes the thirteen standard values (i.e., ace, two through ten, jack,queen, and king). Since the topmost card does not have an obscured area,such card typically serves as one of the two jokers. In this embodimentof the present invention, the utility and enjoyment of the presentinvention is increased by allowing the set of cards to be assembled as asingle coherent image or disassembled for use as a standard deck ofcards. In some embodiments, such cards may be shuffled, dealt, andplayed in a conventional fashion according to the rules of eitherexisting games (e.g., poker, solitaire, spades, hearts, rummy, etc.) oryet to be invented card games. Also, in such embodiments, the values onthe obscured portion of each card may be used to score a game havingassembly or reassembly of the single coherent image as its goal.

Rather than including the numbers, suits, jokers, etc. that occur in astandard deck of playing cards, other card designs may be employedwithin the obscured portions of the card faces. For example, suchobscured portions may be designed to resemble cards used to playtraditional games such as Old Maid, Crazy Eights, Rook®, Flinch®, UNO®,memory, and the like. Or, such obscured areas may include questions,multiplication tables, or other similar information to allow the cardsto be alternatively used as educational flash cards. In yet anotherembodiment, the obscured areas of each card may include the letters ofthe alphabet, numbers, or other information having a sequential order.In such an embodiment, arranging the cards in the respective sequentialorder allows the player to easily assemble a single coherent image. Suchembodiments decrease the level of complexity associated with the presentinvention to allow it to be played by individuals such as young childrenor those having poor eyesight. Alternatively, the obscured portions ofthe card faces may be left blank.

Furthermore, the back of each card (i.e., the side of the card locatedopposite the face of the card) may also include visual or otherinformation. For example, the back of each card may include the graphicsof a respective one of a standard deck of cards or a special deck ofcards (e.g., Old Maid, Crazy Eights, Rook®, Flinch®, UNO®, etc.).Alternatively, the backs of each card could contain a portion of asecond single coherent image to allow one set of cards to be assembledto create either of two, distinct coherent images. In yet anotherembodiment, the card backs may include information that is eitherrelated to or unrelated to the final resulting image and is included toincrease the enjoyment, educational value, or utility of the card game(e.g., such information may create flash cards that allow children tostudy various subjects). And in still another embodiment, each card mayinclude sub-sections of four distinct coherent images, essentiallycreating four distinct games as described herein, which greatlyincreases the amusement value of a single set of cards.

In addition to the various segment embodiments of the present invention,an apparatus for playing such a game is also provided. In manyembodiments, one or more of a variety of plates or stands areincorporated to aid the player in arranging the cards in the properorientation during the reassembly process. Such plates and stands mayinclude mechanisms for locking the image segments (e.g., cards) in animmovable position upon finalization of the assembly or reassembly.Locking the segments in such a position allows the resulting image to bemore easily stored, transported, and displayed.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the card gameincludes, inter alia, a base, shaft, knob, stop, plate, and post forremovably attaching the segments at a single anchor point on eachsegment. In this embodiment, the anchor point for each segment is anaperture in the segment that is passed over a post that protrudes fromthe plate. After all segments are passed over and properly positionedwith respect to the post, a stop and knob combination may be furtherpassed over the post and threaded thereto to hold the segments in animmovable position. In some such embodiments, the apertures areidentically located in the lower left corner of each segment allowingthe segment to be arranged radially about the post possibly resulting ina circular coherent image.

The plate or stand may additionally include recesses that providefurther support or orientation of the segments. These recesses allow anedge of the respective segment to be positioned along an interior wallof the recess to minimize the possibility that the segment moves fromthe desired position. Some embodiments of the present invention envisiona dedicated recess for each segment, while other embodiments envision arecess for only a portion of the segments. Similarly, the stop mayinclude one or more recesses that act in a similar manner. However, suchstop recesses primarily provide support for the faces of the cards,whereas the plate or stand recesses primarily provide support for thebacks of the cards.

Multiple anchor points are provided in some embodiments of the presentinvention. Some such anchor points include arms that extend from theplate or stand around a corner or edge of one or more segments, allowingthe corners or edges of such segments to be inserted into recessescontained within the arms. In these embodiments, the stop discussedabove may not be required as the secondary, tertiary, etc. anchor pointshelp to render the segments immovable. However, stops may be included inany embodiment of the present invention regardless of the quantity ofincluded anchor points.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the perimeter of theplate or stand is larger than the perimeter of the resulting coherentimage. In these embodiments, recesses of sufficient size to fit theentire segment may be provided. Consequently, all edges of one or moresegments may be supported by the single plate or stand. While theembodiments of the present invention described herein discuss one or twoanchor points, other embodiments envision anchoring of one or moresegments via three or more points.

One or more signaling devices are incorporated in some embodiments ofthe present invention such that during the assembling or reassembling ofthe resulting coherent image, a player receives a signal whenever one ormore of the segments have been placed in the incorrect position ororientation. This signal may occur automatically or may be activated bythe player via a button or other similar trigger. The signal may bevirtually any signal such as a steady light, a flashing light, a singlesound, a continuous sound, a repeating sound, a vibration of a portionof the game, or the like without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Alternatively, occurrence of such a signal may indicate a variation inplay of the card game according to a set of predefined game rules. Or,occurrence of such a signal may indicate a change in turn from a firstplayer to a second player, or may indicate the end of the game. Forexample, upon a change in turn, the new player may undertake assembly ofthe final coherent image. Or, occurrence of such a signal may indicate achange in point value or role for one or more game segments. Many rolesmay be attributed to the occurrence of such a signal without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

A method for assembling the resulting coherent image among any number ofplayers with respect to a signaling device is also provided by thepresent invention. First, each player consecutively selects a card andplaces it in a selected position atop a single segment holder such as aplate or a stand. In this embodiment, the signaling device may beactivated automatically whenever a card is placed in the correctposition. If the card has been correctly placed, the player who placedthe card scores a point, and play passes to the next player. However, ifthe card placement is incorrect, a point is not awarded, or may bededucted for the erring player. In this manner, points are tallied todetermine a winner. In one such embodiment of the present invention,each card includes a distinct, hidden magnetic imprint in the corner ofthe card. Also, each card recess includes an embedded magnetic sensorcapable of reading the magnetic imprint of a card inserted within therespective recess to determine whether the inserted card is the correctcard. However, other embodiments of sensing cards may be substitutedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Incorporation of a signaling device within the card game is likely toincrease the amusement value of the present invention for individualswho have impaired sight. Additionally, inclusion of a signaling devicemay allow more difficult games to be created by making it more feasibleto design games having far more complicated and indecipherable images,such as abstract images. For example, more challenging images may beintroduced having segments that very closely resemble other segmentssince the signaling feature will ultimately determine the accuracy ofthe placement of each card.

Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, all of which form a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the present invention can be obtained byreference to the embodiments set forth in the illustrations of theaccompanying drawings. Although the illustrated embodiments areexemplary of systems for carrying out the present invention, both theorganization and method of operation of the invention, in general,together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be moreeasily understood by reference to the drawings and the followingdescription. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of thisinvention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims asappended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplifythe invention.

FIG. 1 depicts an angled, front view of an assembled card game inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention including, interalia, cards, knob, stop, base, and shaft.

FIG. 2 depicts an angled, rear view of the assembled card gameillustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention including, inter alia, a plate having plate recesses, asupport aperture, and a shaft aperture.

FIG. 3 depicts an angled, front view of the plate, shaft, and base cardof the card game illustrated in FIG. 1 with the cards removed inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention including, interalla, an exploded view of a stop and knob.

FIG. 4 depicts an assembled coherent image in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention including topmost, intermediate, andbase cards.

FIG. 5 depicts the faces of a full-figured topmost card, a full-figuredbase card, and three full-figured intermediate cards in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention including an aperture in eachcard and dashed lines indicating the obscured portions of each of thebase and intermediate cards.

FIG. 6 depicts the faces of a full-figured topmost card, apartially-figured base card, and three partially-figured intermediatecards in accordance with one embodiment of the present inventionincluding an aperture in each card and dashed lines indicating theobscured portions of each of the base and intermediate cards.

FIG. 7 depicts an assembled coherent image in accordance with theembodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 4 includingtopmost, intermediate, and base cards in which a different card has beenselected as the base card causing the image to rotate clockwise ninetydegrees.

FIG. 8 depicts an assembled coherent image in accordance with theembodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 7 in which theimage has been rotated counterclockwise ninety degrees to provide a moreaesthetically pleasing display.

FIG. 9 depicts an assembled coherent image in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention including topmost, intermediate, andbase card in which each of the cards has a varying shape and size.

FIG. 10 depicts an assembled coherent image in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention including topmost, intermediate, andbase cards in which the cards are assembled such that the resultingcoherent image is rectangular.

FIG. 11A depicts a front view of an assembled linear card game inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention including, interalia, cards and rectangular plate.

FIG. 11B depicts an angled, front view of the stand of the card gameillustrated in FIG. 11A with the cards and cap removed in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11C depicts an angled, top view of an alternate assembled linearcard game with the cover removed in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention including, inter alia, cards and stand.

FIG. 11D depicts a magnified, angled, top view of the slits of the cardgame illustrated in FIG. 11C.

FIG. 12 depicts an angled, front view of an assembled card game inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention including aplate having a plate extension, cards, knob, base, and shaft.

FIG. 13 depicts an angled, rear view of the assembled card gameillustrated in FIG. 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention including, inter alia, a plate having a plate extension, platerecesses, a support aperture, and a shaft aperture.

FIG. 14 depicts an angled, front view of an assembled card game inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention including cards,knob, and a stand having an integral base and multiple anchor points.

FIG. 15 depicts a magnified view of the stand, recesses, sensors, andanchoring of intermediate cards in accordance with the embodiment of thepresent invention depicted in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16A depicts an angled, front view of the stand illustrated in FIG.14 with the cards removed in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention including, inter alia, an exploded view of a knob,stand and adaptor.

FIG. 16B depicts an angled, front view of the stand illustrated in FIG.14 with the cards removed in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention including, inter alia, an assembled adaptor and knob,as well as indications of the locations of the base and topmost cards.

FIG. 17 depicts a magnified view of cards located in both horizontal andvertical orientations.

FIG. 18 depicts partially-figured and full-figured embodiments of thepresent invention having double apertures in each card and dashed linesindicating the obscured portion of the partially-figured card.

FIG. 19 depicts a front view of an assembled card game having primaryand secondary card games in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention including, inter alia, primary and secondary cardgames, base, and shaft.

FIG. 20A depicts an angled front view of an assembled primary card gamein accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustratedin FIG. 19 including, inter alla, an exploded view of an assembledsecondary card game and knob.

FIG. 20B depicts an angled front view of an assembled primary card gamein accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustratedin FIG. 19 including, inter alia, an exploded view of the back of theplate of a secondary card game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present inventionis disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems and operatingstructures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in awide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite differentfrom those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are merelyrepresentative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the bestembodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for theclaims herein, which define the scope of the present invention. Thefollowing presents a detailed description of one embodiment (as well assome alternative embodiments) of the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1, illustrated is an angled front view of anassembled card game 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In the depicted embodiment, one topmost card 102, fifty-twointermediate cards 104, and one base card 106 are removably attached toplate 202 (FIG. 2). The total quantity of topmost, intermediate, andbase cards, 102, 104, and 106, respectively, is equivalent to the numberof cards in a standard deck of cards (i.e., fifty-four cards). Such aquantity allows the combination of topmost card 102, intermediate cards104, and base card 106 to include two jokers as well as the fourstandard suits in a typical deck of cards (i.e., diamonds, hearts,spades, and clubs), wherein each of the latter includes the thirteenstandard values (i.e., ace, two through ten, jack, queen, and king).Consequently, in some embodiments of the invention, whenever topmost,intermediate, and base cards 102, 104, and 106, respectively, aredisengaged from plate 202, they may be used to play alternate card gamesrequiring a standard deck of cards such as poker, solitaire, spades,hearts, rummy, or the like.

Embodiments of the present invention are envisioned having quantities ofcards other than fifty-four without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. For example, card game 100 may be designed with fewercards to allow topmost, intermediate, and base cards, 102, 104, and 106,respectively, to be used to play games typically requiring a lesserquantity of cards such as Old Maid, Crazy Eights, or the like, wheneversuch cards are not attached to, or are not being arranged for attachmentto, plate 202. Alternatively, topmost card 102, intermediate cards 104,and base card 106 may be designed with greater than fifty-four cards toallow such cards to be used to play games typically requiring a largequantity of cards such as Rook®, Flinch®, UNO®, memory, or the like,whenever such cards are not attached to, or are not being arranged forattachment to, plate 202.

In lieu of using topmost, intermediate, and base cards, 102, 104, and106, respectively, to play card games whenever such cards are notattached to, or are not being arranged for attachment to, plate 202,such cards may be used for other purposes. For example, each card may bean educational flash card including questions and corresponding answers.

In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1, the facesof topmost, intermediate, and base cards, 102,104, and 106,respectively, each include a distinct image that may be arranged in acircular, stacked manner to allow one coherent image such as image 400(FIG. 4) to be created. In such an embodiment, topmost, intermediate,and base cards, 102, 104, and 106, respectively, are anchored to plate202 at a single point via a mechanism such as stop 108 and knob 110, asdiscussed in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 3. This anchoringallows topmost, intermediate, and base cards, 102, 104, and 106,respectively, to be fixed in a vertical orientation such that the entireface of topmost card 102 and the edges of the faces of intermediate andbase cards, 104 and 106, respectively, can be viewed simultaneously.Such anchoring allows the single coherent image created by successfullystacking and arranging topmost, intermediate, and base cards 102, 104,and 106, respectively, to be displayed in a stationary state such thatthe created image does not become distorted. Furthermore, as discussedin greater detail below with respect to FIG. 2, plate 202 accommodatesdisplay of the created image on a vertical surface and inclusion of aremovably attached shaft 112 having an integral or removable base 114allows the created image to be displayed on a horizontal surface.

Turning next to FIG. 2, depicted is an angled rear view of an assembledcard game 100 including an angled rear view of stand 200. In theembodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 2, stand 200includes shaft 112 and base 114. The lowermost end of shaft 112 may bepermanently or removably attached to base 114, while the uppermost endof shaft 112 is permanently or removably inserted into and affixed toshaft aperture 204 included in plate 202. Inclusion of an aspect of thepresent invention such as stand 200 allows an assembled card game 100 torest atop a table, shelf, or other flat or horizontal surface tofacilitate display of an assembled card game 100.

Alternatively, when shaft 112 is removed from shaft aperture 204, anassembled card game 100 may be suspended from a wall or other verticalsurface by inserting the head of a nail, screw, or other similarfastener mounted to a wall into support aperture 206 such that thedownwardly facing surface of plate 202 located directly above supportaperture 206 rests atop the fastener, thereby suspending the assembledcard game 100 on the vertical surface. In some embodiments of thepresent invention such as the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, supportaperture 206 is circular with slit 208 extending vertically from itsupper edge. Slit 208 further secures an assembled card game 100 to awall or other vertical surface by allowing the head of a fastener to beinserted through the support aperture 206 until it completely passestherethrough, and thereafter sliding the shaft of the fastener into slit208. Such a position causes the head of the fastener to act as a stopbecause its size does not allow it to pass through slit 208. That is, asupport aperture 206 having a slit 208 provides further support for anassembled card game 100 when the width of the head of the employedfastener is greater than the width of slit 208 but smaller than thewidth of support aperture 206. This relationship is such that when theshaft of the fastener is inserted into slit 208, it may only be removedby sliding plate 202, and its assembled cards, upwardly until the shaftof the fastener is removed from slit 208 and is contained within supportaperture 206 such that the head of the fastener may pass therethrough,thereby removing the plate from the fastener.

Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated is an angled front view of plate202 coupled to stand 200, as well as an exploded view of stop 108 andknob 110. As depicted in FIG. 3, plate 202 includes, inter alia, basecard plate recess 310, plate wall 314, and intermediate card platerecesses 316. The configuration of plate 202 and its interrelation withstop 108 and knob 110 facilitates stacking and positioning topmost,intermediate, and base cards, 102, 104, and 106, respectively, in astationary, stacked, circular manner about post 302 such that the facesof such cards create a single coherent image.

To assemble such an image, first, an aperture such as card aperture 502(FIG. 5) in base card 106 is passed over post 302 until base card 106 isseated in base card plate recess 310. Base card plate recess 310 mayhave a greater depth than other intermediate plate recesses 316 as itholds base card 106 which is the foundational card for all other cards(i.e., topmost card 102 and intermediate cards 104). In the embodimentof the present invention depicted in FIG. 3, the base card plate recess310 is located adjacent to and to the right side of plate wall 314,which bisects the upper semicircular half of plate 202. Base card platerecess 310 supports base card 106 such that all corners except the lowerleft corner of base card 106 extend beyond the perimeter of plate 202.In addition, the bottom edge of base card 106 rests upon lip 318 of basecard plate recess 310 such that base card 106 is maintained at theproper angle with respect to post 302. Lip 318 of base card plate recess310 is a straight edge that radiates approximately from the center ofplate 202 to the perimeter of plate 202.

Each intermediate card plate recess 316 is progressively more shallowthan base card plate recess 310 such that they form a series of stepsbeginning at lip 318 of base card plate recess 310 and ending at platewall 314, thereby ascending in a clockwise direction about post 302. Insome embodiments, the depth of each intermediate card plate recess 316located to the clockwise direction of a previous intermediate or basecard plate recess 316 or 310, respectively, is less than the previousplate recess and the difference between the depths of each intermediatecard plate recess 316 versus the depth of the previous intermediate cardplate recess 316 is an equivalent value. Similar to base card platerecess 310, each intermediate card plate recess 316 forms a lip (i.e., astraight edge that radiates from the approximate center of plate 202 tothe perimeter of plate 202) upon which the respective intermediate card104 rests such that it is maintained at the proper angle with respect topost 302. Maintaining the base and intermediate cards 106 and 104,respectively, at the proper angles with respect to post 302 increasesthe likelihood that the totality of the faces of such cards will createthe desired single coherent image after all cards have been placed inthe proper position.

However, virtually any variation of recesses and/or supports may besubstituted without departing from the scope of the present invention.For example, embodiments are envisioned in which all or some of thebase, intermediate, and top cards do not have a corresponding recess. Insome such embodiments, supports may not be provided for such cards or anon-recess support (e.g., a stop) may be substituted.

After placement of base card 106 in base card plate recess 310, anaperture of an intermediate card 104 is passed over post 302 until therespective intermediate card 104 is positioned within the intermediatecard plate recess 316 that is adjacent to and to the clockwise directionof base card plate recess 310 such that the bottom edge of intermediatecard 104 rests upon the lip of the respective intermediate card platerecess 316. This method continues until all available intermediate cardplate recesses 316 are filled in a clockwise manner with the properintermediate card 104. When the last intermediate card plate recess 316is filled, the remaining intermediate cards 104 are passed over the post302 in the correct order and are thereafter supported by a device suchas stop 108. Correctly selecting the proper intermediate card 104 tofill each intermediate card plate recess 316 creates the puzzle aspectof the present invention since the final coherent image will not beachieved unless each of the topmost, intermediate, and base cards 102,104, and 106, respectively, is in the proper position.

After all intermediate card plate recesses 316 have been filled, thecard apertures of the remaining intermediate cards 104 are passed overpost 302 one by one until all such cards are arranged in a circularfashion with respect to post 302. Thereafter, the card aperture intopmost card 102 is passed over post 302 and positioned such that thetotality of the faces of all such cards displays a single coherentimage.

After topmost, intermediate, and base cards, 102,104, and 106,respectively, have been properly stacked and positioned to create asingle coherent image, they may be secured to plate 202 via knob 110,stop 108, and post 302. Stop 108 includes stop aperture 308 and one ormore stop lips 312. Stop aperture 308 allows stop 108 to be removablyattached to plate 202 by passing stop aperture 308 over post 302. Forexample, after the card apertures of all topmost, intermediate, and basecards, 102, 104, and 106, respectively, have been passed over post 302and such cards have been properly positioned to create a single coherentimage, stop aperture 308 of stop 108 is passed over post 302 andpositioned such that one or more of stop lips 312 supports side edges ofintermediate and topmost cards 104 and 102, respectively. Such stop lips312 have the identical function of the lips of base and intermediateplate recesses 310 and 316, respectively. Similar to the aforementionedrecesses, stop lips 312 may be stepped and may radiate to equally spacedpoints around the perimeter of stop 108. Additionally, the spacing andquantity of stop lips 312 may be designed such that the totality of thefaces of topmost, intermediate, and base cards 102, 104, and 106,respectively, may be arranged to form a single coherent image such asimage 400 (FIG. 4). Although embodiments of the present invention areenvisioned in which every card of topmost, intermediate, and base cards102, 104, and 106, respectively, is supported by a recess or stop lipsuch as the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3, many embodiments of thepresent invention do not have such a configuration.

Finally, after stop 108 has been properly positioned, knob 110 may bethreaded onto post 302 until knob 110 firmly affixes topmost,intermediate, and base cards 102, 104, and 106, respectively, to plate202 such that the image created by the totality of the faces of suchcards is preserved as a single, stationary coherent image. In oneembodiment of the present invention, knob 110 includes a threadedaperture that is the female counterpart to a threaded post 302, whichprotrudes from plate 202. After passing stop 108 over post 302, knob 110may be threaded to post 302 such that stop 108 and topmost,intermediate, and base cards, 102, 104, and 106, respectively, aresecured to plate 202. When knob 110 is fully tightened, stop 108 isflush with knob 110 and topmost and intermediate cards 102 and 104,respectively, rendering topmost, intermediate, and base cards 102, 104,and 106, respectively, immovable. Plate 202 may then be hung on avertical surface as discussed above with respect to FIG. 2, may beattached to shaft 112 and base 114 for resting on a horizontal surface,or may be otherwise displayed with a greatly minimized possibility of ashift in the position of topmost, intermediate, or base cards 102, 104,and 106, respectively (i.e., a distortion of the single coherent image).

In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more of stop 108and knob 110 may be manufactured from a rigid transparent material thatsecurely affixes topmost, intermediate, and base cards 102, 104, and106, respectively, to plate 202 while minimizing any blockage of thesingle coherent image produced by card game 100. Or, alternatively, stop108 or knob 110 may be manufactured from a slightly resilient materialthat acts to more securely anchor topmost, intermediate, and base cards102, 104, and 106, respectively, in their proper position. Or, plate 202may be manufactured from a slightly resilient material to allow thetightened stop and knob to more tightly secure topmost, intermediate,and base cards 102,104, and 106, respectively.

The quantity of intermediate card plate recesses included in a plate mayvary with the quantity of cards included with a specific card game. Forexample, a plate may include a quantity of base and intermediate cardplate recesses that allows each intermediate and base card to besupported by a dedicated intermediate or base plate recess. In addition,a topmost card plate recess may be provided to hold and position topmostcard. Alternatively, one or more of topmost and intermediate cards maybe solely or additionally supported by stop lips. Or, in yet anotherembodiment, base or intermediate plate recesses, respectively, may beconfigured to support the base card or more than one intermediate card,respectively. Any combination of configurations for supporting topmost,intermediate, and base cards may be implemented without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, although FIGS. 1-3 depict an attachment mechanism such asstop 108 and knob 110, alternate attachment mechanisms may besubstituted without departing from the scope of the present invention.For example, post 302 may alternatively have a permanently attached capat its longitudinal end opposite the affixed plate that is shaped as thehead of a nail, and card apertures 502 may be configured as slots ratherthan circular apertures. Such slot-shaped apertures would slide over theshaft of post 302 and would be prevented from sliding off post 302 viaattachment of the cap.

Referring next to FIG. 4, illustrated is an array of topmost,intermediate, and base cards, 402, 404 a-404 c, and 406, respectively,assembled such that a single coherent image 400 is created in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. Topmost, intermediate, andbase cards, 402, 404 a-404 c, and 406, respectively, have a shape andconfiguration similar to the topmost, intermediate, and base cards, 102,104, and 106, respectively, discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3.Image 400 is created by arranging the individual images or portions ofimages that appear on the faces of topmost, intermediate, and basecards, 402, 404 a-404 c, and 406, respectively, until the images on thefaces of each of such cards meshes with the images on the faces of alladjacent cards in a seamless side-by-side fashion, thereby creating asingle, coherent image 400.

The faces of each of topmost, intermediate, and base cards 402, 404a-404 c, and 406, respectively, may include a varying amount of visualinformation. For example, such faces may be full-figured orpartially-figured as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. Each ofthe cards depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 is depicted as it would appear priorto assembly or after removal from plate 202.

Each of the cards depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 includes one of cardapertures 502 a-502 e to facilitate assembly of image 400 and attachmentof such image to plate 202 as discussed in greater detail above withrespect to FIG. 3. In this embodiment of the present invention, cardapertures 502 are located at the same position on each of topmost,intermediate, and base cards 402, 404, and 406, respectively, to causeeach card to be anchored to plate 202 at the same point. The use of anidentical anchor point and identical locations of card apertures 502facilitates creation of the circular configuration of the resultingimage 400.

Referring now to FIG. 5, depicted are topmost, intermediate, and basecards 402, 404 a-404 c, and 406, respectively, having full-figuredfaces. Dashed lines 504 a-504 d delineate the portions of base andintermediate cards, 406 and 404 a-404 c, respectively, that are visiblein image 400 when a card game such as card game 100 is fully assembled.That is, when a card game of the present invention is fully assembled,the portion of the face of each card located above and to the left ofdashed lines 504 a-504 d comprises a portion of image 400 and theportion of the face of each card located below and to the right ofdashed lines 504 a-504 d is hidden behind adjacent, overlapping topmostor intermediate cards 402 and 406, respectively.

Turning next to FIG. 6, depicted are topmost, intermediate, and basecards 402, 404 a-404 c, and 406, respectively, having partially-figuredfaces. Similar to the cards depicted in FIG. 5, dashed lines 504 a-504 ddelineate the portions of base and intermediate cards, 406 and 404 a-404c, respectively, that are visible in image 400 when a card game such ascard game 100 is fully assembled. That is, when a card game of thepresent invention is fully assembled, the portion of the faces of thecards located above and to the left of dashed lines 504 a-504 dcomprises a portion of image 400 and the portion of the faces of thecards located below and to the right of dashed lines 504 a-504 d ishidden behind adjacent, overlapping topmost or intermediate cards 402and 406, respectively. Since each base and intermediate card, 406 and404, respectively, includes a relatively small portion of image 400, itis likely that adjacent cards of the assembled card game 100 willclosely resemble each other, thereby increasing the complexity ofassembling the card game of the present invention.

In contrast to the full-figured card faces depicted in FIG. 5, thepartially-figured card faces in FIG. 6 may optionally containinformation or images that are not related to image 400, which mayappear below and to the right of dashed lines 504 a-504 d. For example,each of these portions of the faces of base and intermediate cards, 406and 404, respectively, may include one card of a standard deck of cards.In this scenario, since the face of topmost card 402 is completelycovered with a figure, it will serve as one of the two jokers of astandard deck of cards. Also, in this example, the second joker isincluded in the portion of the card face of base card 406 located belowand to the right of dashed line 504 a. In another example of thisembodiment, the portion of the face of intermediate card 404a locatedbelow and to the right of dashed line 504 b includes the ace of hearts.All other cards of the deck similarly represent one of the requiredcards in a standard deck of playing cards.

Alternatively, information related to a special deck of cards may beincluded to the right and below dashed lines 504 a-504 d. Specifically,these hidden areas may include letters, numbers, or images that allowfor the playing of other card games that are either already inexistence, or are yet to be invented. For example, FIG. 6 depicts thehidden portion of intermediate card 404 b as the face of a Go Fish® cardin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment of the present invention, the hidden portion of each of thefaces of base and intermediate cards 406 and 404 depicts a differentcard of an Old Maid® card deck. In this embodiment, topmost card 402could be employed as a wild card, since topmost card 402 does not have ahidden area for placement of an additional image. Although theembodiment of the present invention depicted with respect tointermediate card 404 b is that of a Go Fish® card, cards for alternategames could be included without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Similarly, intermediate card 404 c of FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment ofthe present invention that includes an educational flash card. Inparticular, the portion of the face of intermediate card 404 c locatedbelow and to the right of dashed line 504 d depicts an alphabeticalquestion. However, other types of educational questions (e.g.,multiplication tables, history questions, etc.) may be substitutedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. In suchembodiments of the present invention, base card 406 and all intermediatecards 404 may include a different educational question related to orunrelated to the image that results from assembly of the respective cardgame. In this embodiment, full-figured topmost card 402 may not serve aneducational purpose since topmost card 402 does not have a hidden areafor placement of an educational question or image. However, suchfull-figured cards may serve another purpose (e.g., may provide a freepoint when drawn). Although the educational embodiment depicted withrespect to intermediate card 404 c contains an educational questionintended for a young child, questions for other ages (e.g., teenagers,adults, etc.) or non-educational questions (e.g., trivia) could besubstituted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Although, FIG. 6 depicts various specific embodiments of the hiddenareas of intermediate and base cards 404 and 406, respectively, otherembodiments could be included without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. Any images or other content could be included in thehidden portion of these cards as long as it is contained within thehidden portion and does not thereby change the appearance of image 400.

Referring now to both FIGS. 5 and 6, topmost card 402 does not include adashed line since the entire face of topmost card 402 is visible inimage 400. Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present inventionincluding cards as depicted in FIG. 5, topmost card 402 bisects theupper semicircular half of image 400 and includes the most significantportion of the coherent image, which in this embodiment depicts a man'shead, to provide a more satisfying sense of completion to image 400.Although the image 400 depicted in FIG. 4, depicts a topmost card 402that bisects the upper semicircular half of image 400, other embodimentsof the present invention are envisioned in which topmost card 402 islocated in an alternate location without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention.

Furthermore, as discussed in greater detail below with respect to FIG.18, the backs of topmost, intermediate, and base cards 402, 404 a-404 c,and 406, respectively, may each include one card of a standard deck ofcards or one card of a special deck of cards as discussed above withrespect to FIG. 1. Alternatively, the backs of each card could contain aportion of a second image similar to image 400 to allow one set of cardsto be assembled to create either of two, distinct images. In yet anotherembodiment, the backs of topmost, intermediate, and base cards 402, 404a-404 c, and 406, respectively, may include information that is eitherrelated to or unrelated to image 400, and is included to increase theenjoyment, educational value, or utility of the card game (e.g., suchinformation may create flash cards that allow children to study varioussubjects).

Turning next to FIG. 7, illustrated is an alternate array of thetopmost, intermediate, and base cards 402, 404, and 406, respectively,depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this array of such cards, a differentcoherent image results due to the selection of a different base card 706as compared to base card 406 selected for the coherent image depicted inFIG. 4. This selection of base card 706 causes the resulting image 700to be rotated clockwise with respect to the resulting image 400 that iscreated when base card 406 is selected as depicted in FIG. 4, despitethe fact that an identical deck of cards is employed. Such clockwiserotation occurs since selection of a different base card 706 alters thecard that is finally placed as topmost card 702. Since base card 706 isthe first card to be placed atop plate 202, changing the cardincorporated for base card 706 automatically causes resulting image 700to be oriented at an angle different than image 400 although topmostcard 702 is located in the same position as topmost card 402.

The ability to change the orientation of the resulting single coherentimage is best accommodated using a deck of cards comprised completely offull-figured topmost, intermediate, and base cards 702, 704, and 706,respectively. Use of such cards allows a quantity of rotated resultingimages equal to the quantity of cards contained in the specific deck ofcards (i.e., any one of the cards may be selected as base card 706allowing any one of the cards to become topmost card 702). For example,the change in the base card from base card 406 as depicted in FIG. 4 tobase card 706 as depicted in FIG. 7 changes the image represented on theface of the topmost card from the head of a man as depicted in FIG. 4 tothe right hand of the man as depicted in FIG. 7.

Depicted in FIG. 8 is image 700 as depicted in FIG. 7 rotated ninetydegrees counterclockwise to allow image 700 to be displayed in a moreaesthetically pleasing position (i.e., in a position in which the imageof the man is upright). The degrees and direction of rotation requiredto display any final assembled image in an aesthetically pleasingposition depends directly on the card that has been selected to be basecard 706 and the type of image being displayed. For example, someabstract images may require no rotation whatsoever in order to beaesthetically pleasing as a finished image regardless of which card isselected to be base card 706.

In order to accommodate all of the possible degrees and directions ofrotation that may be required for a final assembled coherent image in anembodiment of the present invention wherein any card may be selected atrandom to be base card 706, an alternate embodiment of plate 202, plate1302 (FIG. 13), or stand 1408 (FIG. 14) may be incorporated that allowsthe assembled array of topmost, intermediate, and base cards 702, 704,and 706, respectively, to be rotated 3600 while attached to stand 200(FIG. 2). Alternatively, stand 200 may be configured such that it may bepositioned at any angle of rotation atop a horizontal surface or may behung at any angle of rotation on a vertical surface (e.g., multiplesupport apertures may be positioned in a circular pattern through therear of plate 202).

Turning now to FIG. 9, depicted is image 900 in accordance with analternate embodiment of the present invention in which each card has avaried shape and size. Image 900 is created by a circular configurationof topmost, intermediate, and base cards 902, 904, and 906,respectively, similar to the circular configuration of cards in cardgame 100 as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-8. However, whereasthe embodiments of the present invention depicted in these figures haveequal rectangular shapes, the embodiment of the present inventiondepicted in FIG. 9 includes topmost, intermediate, and base cards 902,904, and 906, respectively, having varied shapes and sizes.

To accommodate cards having such varied shapes, some embodiments of thepresent invention include cards having one or more standardized edges908. For example, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 includes cardshaving a standardized left edge. Standardized edges 908 allow a playerof the card game to perform a systematic side-by-side comparison of thecards to determine the order in which such cards should be stackedand/or arranged in a circular manner. Without such a standardized edge,the complexity of the card game is greatly increased. By varying theshapes and sizes of such cards, resulting images having a variety ofshapes may be created. For example, each card may be shaped such thatthe final resulting image is in the shape of an animal, a star, afour-leaf clover, a heart, etc. to allow the card game to be tailoredfor specific events, holidays, etc.

Furthermore, as depicted in FIG. 10, the shape of topmost, intermediate,and base cards 1002, 1004, and 1006, respectively, may be configuredsuch that the resulting image 1000 is rectangular in shape.Additionally, this rectangular shape may allow image 1000 to be framedusing a standard, rather than custom, frame. Similar to the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 9, each of topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1002,1004, and 1006, respectively, includes standardized edge 1008 tofacilitate assembly of the card game by allowing the player to perform asystematic side-by-side comparison of the aforementioned cards.

Referring next to FIG. 11A, depicted is an assembled linear card game1100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, stand 1102 may be employed to arrange each of the topmost,intermediate, and base cards 1104, 1106, and 1108, respectively, in alinear fashion. In card game 1100, intermediate and base cards 1106, and1108, respectively may be full-figured or partially-figured. In thelatter embodiment, a segment of the final coherent image is located onthe left side of the card face. As discussed herein, the portion of thefaces of intermediate and base cards 1106 and 1108, respectively, thatdoes not include a segment of the final coherent image may be blank orprinted with other images, numbers, graphics, or the like.

Turning next to FIG. 11B, depicted is an angled front view of stand 1102with cap 1114 removed, which may be used in conjunction with a deck ofcards to create an assembled linear card game 1100 (FIG. 11A). First, aplayer removes cap 1114. In the embodiment of the present inventiondepicted in FIG. 11B, cap 1114 is affixed to stand 1102 by insertion ofpegs 1116 into corresponding peg apertures 1118, however, any method ofsecuring cap 1114 to stand 1102 may be incorporated without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

After cap 1114 is removed, topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1104,1106, and 1108, respectively, may be slid into stand 1102 such that theupper portion of the face of such cards abuts the inwardly facing upperslit wall 1128 of upper slit 1110 and the lower portion of the face ofsuch cards abuts the inwardly facing lower slit wall 1120 of lower slit1112. Furthermore, lower slit wall 1120 optionally includes recesses1129 having integral recess lips 1122, which impede the leftwardlongitudinal motion of cards inserted therein. However, any card may beadvanced beyond any recess lip 1122 toward left wall 1124 by applyingpressure to the face of the card in the direction of inner wall 1126.Preferably, inner wall 1126 is manufactured from a resilient materialsuch as rubber or synthetic foam that allows motion of a card towardinner wall 1126 when pressure is exerted on the card's face, however,other materials may be substituted without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. Use of such a material allows inner wall 1126 toremain in an uncompressed state when no pressure is exerted on a card,thereby causing the face of each card to abut lower and upper slit walls1120 and 1128, respectively. Such material also allows inner wall 1126to contract when pressure is applied to the card, thereby allowing thecard to clear recess lip 1122 such that the card may be slidlongitudinally toward left wall 1124. In some embodiments of the presentinvention, upper slit wall 1128 also includes recesses and recess lipssimilar to recesses 1129 and recess lips 1122. After insertion of allcards in the deck of cards in the aforementioned manner, stand 1102supports and secures topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1104,1106,and 1108, respectively, in a manner suitable to the aesthetic display ofthe coherent image in an upright position.

Turning next to FIG. 11C, depicted is an angled top view of anotherembodiment of an assembled linear card game 1130. Similar to stand 1102,stand 1131 is also designed to hold an assembled deck of topmost,intermediate, and base cards 1132, 1134, and 1136, respectively, in alinear fashion. Cards are anchored within stand 1131 by insertion ofsuch cards into slits 1138, which are individually cut into the innerwall of stand 1131. In some embodiments of the present invention, stand1131 may include transparent cover 1140, which further secures topmost,intermediate, and base cards 1132, 1134, and 1136, respectively, withinstand 1131 by exerting pressure on the faces of such cards. Furthermore,regardless of whether a cover such as cover 1140 is designed to securecards within a stand, such a cover may be included in some embodimentsof the present invention, including circular embodiments, to protect thecards from dust, debris, or the like, or to enhance the display ofassembled linear or circular card games.

Referring next to FIG. 11D, depicted is a magnified view of slits 1138of assembled linear card game 1130 as depicted in FIG. 11C. Slits 1138are configured to firmly hold each of topmost, intermediate, and basecards 1132, 1134, and 1136, respectively, by the compressive stresscaused by the constraining width 1142 and the angled cut of slits 1138,and the resilience of the topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1132,1134, and 1136, respectively. More specifically, the angled cuts thatcreate slits 1138 are designed to vary gradually between adjacent slits1138 such that left edge 1144 of each card inserted into slit 1138 is infull contact with the face of the card present in an adjacent leftwardslit 1138. That is, the angle of each slit 1138 is such that left edge1144 of each inserted card intersects the plane of the adjacent leftwardcard, however, the presence of the adjacent leftward card and theresilience of the card material causes the inserted card to bend suchthat the pressure of the bend maintains the left edge 1144 of theinserted card in full contact with the face of the adjacent leftwardcard.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the elliptical, oval, orovate shape of stand 1131 facilitates an intense angling of slits 1138,which helps increase the pressure exerted by each card on the adjacentleftward card. However, such shape is not a required aspect of thepresent invention. Also, alternate methods of securing cards withinplates, stands, or the like whether such configurations are linear,circular, or otherwise, and whether such configurations includescompressive stress, friction, resilient card materials, anchoringmethods, or the like may be substituted without departing from the scopeof the invention.

As discussed above with respect to alternate embodiments, intermediateand base cards 1106 and 1108, respectively, as well as intermediate andbase cards 1134 and 1136, respectively, may be full-figured orpartially-figured, wherein the latter embodiment may include informationthat is not a subsection of the resulting image in the hidden areas.Similarly, such cards may include standardized left edges such as leftedges 1144 to accommodate a systematic side-by-side comparison of allcards, thereby allowing a player of the card game to properly arrangesuch cards to achieve a single coherent image. Furthermore, stands 1102and 1131 may be modified as necessary to accommodate display on avertical or horizontal surface.

Referring next to FIG. 12, depicted is an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention substantially equivalent to the embodiment discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 1-3. However, the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 12-13 has two anchor points for some cards, in lieu of the oneanchor point discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3. First, one ormore of the topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1202, 1204, and 1206,respectively, are anchored to plate extension 1208 by inserting a cornerof such cards into a corresponding recess 1210 of plate extension 1208.Such insertion anchors each of these cards at a point opposite thesecond anchor point (i.e., the card aperture located in the oppositecorner of the cards).

After all intended cards have been inserted in the correspondingrecesses 1210 of plate extension 1208, the topmost, intermediate, andbase cards 1202, 1204, and 1206, respectively, are further anchored toplate 1302 (FIG. 13) via a mechanism such as knob 1216, or a knob andstop combination, as discussed in greater detail above with respect toFIG. 3. This anchoring allows the topmost, intermediate, and base cards1202, 1204, and 1206, respectively, to be fixed in an immovable positionsuch that the arrangement of the entire face of topmost card 1202 andthe visible edges of the faces of intermediate and base cards, 1204 and1206, respectively, can be viewed simultaneously. The totality of theface of topmost card 1202 and the exposed edges of the faces of theintermediate and base cards, 1204 and 1206, respectively, creates onelarger coherent image as described in greater detail above with respectto FIGS. 4-11. Furthermore, inclusion of a removably attached shaft 1212having an integral or removable base 1214 allows the assembled cards tobe displayed on a horizontal surface as discussed in greater detailabove with respect to FIG. 2.

Turning next to FIG. 13, depicted is an angled rear view of an assembledcard game 1200 including an angled rear view of stand 1300. In theembodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 13, stand 1300includes shaft 1212 and base 1214. The lowermost end of shaft 1212 maybe permanently or removably attached to base 1214, while the uppermostend of shaft 1212 is permanently or removably inserted into and affixedto shaft aperture 1304 included in plate 1302. Inclusion of an aspect ofthe present invention such as stand 1300 allows an assembled card gamesuch as card game 1200 to rest atop a table, shelf, or other flatsurface to facilitate display of card game 1200.

Alternatively, when shaft 1212 is removed from shaft aperture 1304, cardgame 1200 may be suspended from a wall or other vertical surface byinserting the head of a nail, screw, or other similar fastener mountedto a wall into support aperture 1306 such that the downwardly facingsurface of plate 1302 located directly above support aperture 1306 restsatop the fastener, thereby suspending card game 1200 on the verticalsurface. In some embodiments of the present invention such as theembodiment depicted in FIG. 12, support aperture 1306 is circular withslit 1308 extending vertically from its upper edge. Slit 1308 furthersecures card game 1200 to a wall or other vertical surface by allowingthe head of a fastener to be inserted through the support aperture 1306until it completely passes therethrough, and thereafter sliding theshaft of the fastener into slit 1308. Such a position causes the head ofthe fastener to act as a stop because its size does not allow it to passthrough slit 1308. That is, a support aperture 1306 having a slit 1308provides further support for card game 1200 when the width of the headof the employed fastener is greater than the width of slit 1308 butsmaller than the width of support aperture 1306. This relationship issuch that when the shaft of the fastener is inserted into slit 1308, itmay only be removed by sliding plate 1302, and its assembled cards,upwardly until the shaft of the fastener is removed from slit 1308 andis contained within support aperture 1306 such that the head of thefastener may pass therethrough and release the game from the fastener.

Turning next to FIG. 14, depicted is card game 1400, which is analternate embodiment of the present invention substantially equivalentto the embodiment discussed above with respect to FIGS. 12-13. However,whereas the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 12-13 has two anchor points forthe topmost card only, or for the topmost card, base card, and a fewintermediate cards only, the embodiment of the present inventiondepicted in FIGS. 14, 15, 16A, and 16B has two anchor points for each ofthe topmost, base, intermediate cards 1402, 1404, and 1406,respectively.

First, each of topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1402, 1404, and1406, respectively, are anchored to stand 1408 by inserting the upperright corner of such cards into a corresponding recess 1410 of stand1408. An enlarged view of the nesting of several intermediate cards 1404in recesses 1410 is illustrated in FIG. 15. Such insertion anchors eachof these cards at a point opposite the second anchor point (i.e., thecorner of the cards containing card aperture 1502). In one embodiment ofthe present invention, the inwardly facing surfaces of the recesses forma 90 degree angle with respect to each other to accommodate insertion ofthe corners of square or rectangular cards.

After all topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1402, 1404, and 1406,respectively, have been inserted in the corresponding recesses 1410 ofstand 1408, topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1402, 1404, and 1406,respectively, are then anchored to stand 1408 via a mechanism such asknob 1412, or a knob and stop combination, as discussed in greaterdetail above with respect to FIG. 3. This anchoring allows topmost,intermediate, and base cards 1402, 1404, and 1406, respectively, to befixed in an immovable position such that the entire face of topmost card1402 and the visible areas of the faces of intermediate and base cards1404 and 1406, respectively, can be viewed simultaneously. The totalityof the face of topmost card 1402 and the exposed areas of the faces ofintermediate and base cards 1404 and 1406, respectively, creates onelarger coherent image as described in greater detail above with respectto FIGS. 4-11.

Referring now to FIG. 15, illustrated is a magnified view of stand 1408including, inter alia, intermediate cards 1404, card apertures 1502,magnetic imprints 1506, and sensors 1504. Sensors 1504 are embedded inrecesses 1410. Such sensors determine, by electronic or mechanicalmeans, if the correct card has been placed in recess 1410. For example,in the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 15, sensors1504 are magnetic sensors that read, or are activated by, magneticimprints 1506 included in the surface of, or embedded within, thecorners of topmost, intermediary and base cards 1402, 1404, and 1406,respectively. These sensors allow the correctness of the inserted cardsto be ascertained at any time by pressing button 1414 (FIG. 14), or asimilar switch or trigger located on stand 1408, which causes indicator1416 (FIG. 14) to indicate the accuracy of the inserted cards. AlthoughFIG. 15 discloses an electromagnetic system for detecting and indicatingthe correctness of inserted cards, other detection and indication may besubstituted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring next to FIG. 16A, depicted is an angled front view of stand1408 without cards with an exploded view of adaptor 1608 and knob 1412.Adaptor 1608 increases the versatility of the card game such as cardgame 1400 by providing support for single aperture topmost,intermediate, and base cards 1402, 1404, and 1406, respectively, thatare passed over post 1602 in a horizontal orientation (i.e., when theside of the card to be displayed in the final coherent image is facingtoward the viewer and the card is oriented such that the aperture islocated in the lower left corner of the card, the width of the card isgreater than the height of the card) rather than a vertical orientation(i.e., when the side of the card to be displayed in the final coherentimage is facing toward the viewer and the card is oriented such that theaperture is located in the lower left corner of the card, the height ofthe card is greater than the width of the card). In other words,attachment of adaptor 1608 to stand 1408 allows the cards to be passedover post 1602 such that the backs of each card are displayed ratherthan the faces. Such embodiments allow portions of a second coherentimage to be included on the backs of all cards such that a player, athis or her option, may either assemble a first coherent image bycombining the images on the faces of all cards or assemble a secondcoherent image by combining the images on the backs of all cards.

In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 16A and16B, adaptor 1608 attaches to stand 1408 by inserting three adaptor pegs1618 into three adaptor peg apertures 1620. However, alternate methodsof attachment may be substituted without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. When all cards are assembled, knob 1412 may beattached to post 1602 as discussed above to further render the cardsimmovable. The quantity of adaptor recesses 1616 on adaptor 1608 mayvary depending on factors such as the quantity of cards in the cardgame, the size and proportion of each card, etc. All such variations arewithin the scope of the present invention.

Although inclusion of adaptor 1608 is not required, it is preferred wheninstalling the cards in a horizontal orientation to ensure that allcards have the necessary support. To illustrate this point, whenassembling the cards in a vertical orientation, a player typicallyplaces a single aperture base card such as base card 1406 (FIG. 14) suchthat the aperture is located in the lower left corner of the card andthe upper right corner of such base card nests into first recess 1612 a.However, when a base card is placed in a horizontal orientation such ashorizontally-oriented base card 1614, the orientation causes the basecard to bypass first, second, third, and fourth recesses 1612 a-1612 d.Consequently, if adaptor 1608 is not attached to stand 1408, several ofthe cards that are placed atop stand 1408 at the end of the assembly,including the topmost card, will not have an appropriate recess 1612into which a corner may be nested. This shortcoming may be remedied byattaching adaptor 1608 to stand 1408 whenever the cards are to beinstalled in a horizontal, rather than vertical, orientation to providesupport and adaptor recesses 1616 for the final cards of the assembly.

FIG. 16B depicts an angled front view of stand 1408 with adaptor 1608inserted into adaptor peg apertures 1620 (FIG. 16A). In the embodimentof the present invention depicted in FIG. 16B, the top edge of base card1614 when it is in a horizontal orientation aligns with the bottomforward facing surface of adaptor 1608. Also depicted is the position oftopmost card 1606 having one corner supported in adaptor recess 1616.

Turning now to FIG. 17, recesses 1612 having inwardly facing surfacesoriented at an angle greater than the 90 degree angle depicted forrecesses 1410 (FIG. 15) are depicted. The greater angle is required onany plate, stand, or the like designed to allow the cards to beinstalled in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation.Horizontally-oriented intermediate cards 1706 a-1706 d andvertically-oriented intermediate cards 1708 a-1708 d are depicted tofurther illustrate the ability of the enlarged angle of the inwardlyfacing surfaces of recesses 1612 to accommodate bothhorizontally-oriented and vertically-oriented cards.

Turning now to FIG. 18, depicted are partially-figured and full-figuredembodiments of the present invention including double apertures 1804 ineach card and dashed lines indicating the obscured portion of thepartially-figured card. Increasing the quantity of apertures 1804increases the quantity of coherent images that may be created using asingle deck of cards. Two examples are illustrated in further detailbelow with respect to cards 1802 a-1802 b, however, many more variationsmay be incorporated without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Card 1802 a is a partially-figured card having two apertures 1804 a and1804 b in diagonally opposed corners of card 1802 a. A deck including aplurality of cards such as cards 1802 a may be assembled in a verticalorientation using either of apertures 1804 a and 1804 b as an anchorpoint. However, use of apertures 1804 a as anchoring points will resultin the assembly of an image comprised of upper segments 1806, whereasuse of apertures 1804 b as anchoring points will result in the assemblyof an image comprised of lower segments 1808. Consequently, assembly ofa deck of cards such as cards 1802 a in a vertical orientation may beperformed to create either of two resulting coherent images. Inaddition, if the back of each card 1802 a is also partially-configured(e.g., similar to the face of card 1802 a), assembly of the backs of adeck of cards such as cards 1802 a in a horizontal orientation usingeither apertures 1804 a or 1804 b as anchoring points may be performedto create either of two additional distinct resulting coherent images.In this manner, a single deck of cards such as cards 1802 a may beassembled to create any one of four independent coherent images.Additionally, the hidden central sections of the faces and backs of eachcard 1802a may include information that is not a part of any resultingcoherent image to enhance the utility of the card game as discussedabove. For example, this area of each of the cards may depict one of thefaces of a card in a standard deck of playing cards to allow cards 1802a to be used as such when they are not assembled.

Furthermore, card 1802 a may optionally include codes, markings, or thelike, such as color codes 1810 and 1812 to aid in assembly of the finalcoherent image. For example, as depicted in FIG. 18, color code 1810 maybe a first color (e.g., red). Whenever the user intends to assemble afinal coherent image that includes upper segments 1806, only apertures1804 a having color code 1810 shall be used as an anchoring point.Similarly, whenever the user intends to assemble a final coherent imagethat includes lower segments 1808, only apertures 1804 b having colorcode 1812 (e.g., a blue color code) shall be used as an anchoring point.

Although card 1802 a is depicted as partially-figured, such an apertureconfiguration may also be incorporated in a card having a full-figuredface and a partially-figured back, or a partially-figured face and afull-figured back. When using a full-figured card set, a quantity ofdifferent rotated versions of the resulting coherent image can beassembled that is equal to the quantity of cards in the deck,-since anyfull-figured card may be selected as the base card as discussed above.

Card 1802 b is a full-figured card including two apertures 1804 c and1804 d in both corners of a first end of card 1802 b. If both the faceand the back of cards 1802 b are similarly configured, a deck of cards1802 b may be assembled to create a quantity of rotated coherent imagesequal to two times the quantity of cards 1802 b in the deck. That is,each of the cards 1802 b may be selected as the base card resulting in aquantity of coherent images equal to the quantity of cards as discussedabove. As discussed above with respect to card 1802 a, any combinationof partially-figured and full-figured card sides may be substitutedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

In embodiments of the present invention such as that depicted in FIG.18, cards 1802 b may include a code, marking, or the like to indicatewhich apertures may be used in conjunction with a specific side (i.e.,face or back) of a card. For example, color code 1814 located around theperimeter of aperture 1804 c may indicate that aperture 1804 c is anacceptable anchoring point for the side of card 1802 b depicted in FIG.18. Likewise, the absence of a color code around the perimeter ofaperture 1804 d indicates that it is not an acceptable anchoring pointfor the full-figured side of card 1802 b depicted in FIG. 18.

Although FIG. 18 depicts cards having two apertures, any quantity ofapertures may be substituted without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. Also, embodiments of the present invention areenvisioned in which some cards are horizontally-oriented and others arevertically-oriented to achieve a particular coherent image. Suchembodiments may provide opportunities to increase the difficulty andtherefore the entertainment value of the present invention. Furthermore,although cards are depicted, virtually any other type of segment (e.g.,puzzle pieces, blocks, photos, etc.) may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope hereof.

FIG. 19 depicts a front view of card game 1900 in accordance withanother alternate embodiment of the present invention. Card game 1900 issimilar in function to card game 1400 except that it includes both aprimary card game 1902, as well as a secondary card game 1904. Bothprimary card game 1902 and secondary card game 1904 have two anchoringpoints for all primary topmost, intermediate, and base cards 2002, 2004,and 2006, respectively (FIG. 20B), and all secondary topmost,intermediate, and base cards 1906, 1908, and 1910, respectively. The twoanchoring points for each of such cards are similar to those describedabove with respect to FIGS. 14 and 15.

To assemble card game 1900, first primary card game 1902 is assembledatop primary plate 1912 in the same manner described above with respectto FIGS. 14 and 15, except that there is no knob similar to knob 1412.The purpose of knob 1412 is achieved by attaching secondary plate 1914to primary plate 1912. Next, an empty secondary plate 1914 is attachedto primary plate 1912 as depicted in FIGS. 20A and 20B. As illustratedin FIGS. 20A and 20B, to perform such attachment, secondary plateapertures 2016, located on the rear side of secondary plate 1914, arepassed over primary posts 2012 and 2014. Thereafter, secondary plate1914 is maintained in this position relative to primary plate 1912 dueto friction, gravity, and/or the inclined nature of primary plate 1912when affixed atop stand 1916. Similar to stand 200 as discussed abovewith respect to FIG. 2, stand 1916 includes shaft 1918 and base 1920.

After attachment of secondary plate 1914 to primary plate 1912, allsecondary topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1906, 1908, and 1910,respectively, may be assembled atop secondary plate 1914 in the samemanner described above with respect to FIGS. 14 and 15, except that thecards are progressively stacked in a counterclockwise direction withrespect to the center of secondary plate 1914. After completion ofassembly of the secondary cards, knob 2008 may be tightly threaded ontosecondary post 2010 to maintain secondary topmost, intermediate, andbase cards 1906, 1908, and 1910, respectively, in an immovable state,thereby maintaining the single coherent image created by assembly ofprimary topmost, intermediate, and base cards 2002, 2004, and 2006,respectively, and secondary topmost, intermediate, and base cards 1906,1908, and 1910, respectively.

Although, secondary plate 1914 is depicted as a half circle with fourstraight edges completing the non-circular half of secondary plate 1914,virtually any shape may be incorporated for primary plate 1912 andsecondary plate 1914 without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. For example, either or both of primary plate 1912 andsecondary plate 1914 could be shaped as a full circle, a semicircle, apolygon, etc. without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The stacking of two or more plates, wherein each plate contains adistinct array of cards in its assembled state, provides numerousadvantages to the card game of the present invention. First, theaddition of second, third, fourth, etc. sets of cards increases thecomplexity of the card game. The increase in the quantity of cardsrequires a player of the card game to potentially test and evaluate manyadditional cards before finding the next piece of the puzzle. Second,the increased complexity of the card game may add to increased enjoymentduring assembly of the card game. Third, the added complexity of theresulting arrays of cards may provide enhanced visual satisfaction.

For example, in the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG.19, beyond the addition of secondary plate 1914, card game 1900 is alsodesigned such that primary topmost, intermediate, and base cards, 2002,2004, and 2006, respectively, assembled on primary plate 1912 areassembled in a clockwise manner, whereas secondary topmost,intermediate, and base cards, 1906, 1908, and 1910, respectively,assembled on secondary plate 1914, are assembled in a counterclockwisemanner. These two competing directions provide another aspect of thepresent invention that adds to the visual enjoyment and complexity ofthe resulting array of cards. Furthermore, in a satisfying visualsurprise, this reversal of direction also modifies the configuration ofthe primary and secondary topmost, intermediate, and base cards suchthat the central circular area of the array of cards atop primary plate1912 is larger than the central circular area of the array of cards atopsecondary plate 1914. In alternate embodiments, the directions of thearrays of each set of cards may be reversed without departing from thespirit of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to one ormore embodiments, which embodiments have been set forth in considerabledetail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of theinvention, such embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended tobe limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of theinvention. The scope of the invention, therefore, shall be definedsolely by the following claims. Further, it will be apparent to those ofskill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detailswithout departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A game apparatus comprising: at least two segments;wherein at least two of said segments include at least one subsection ofat least one resultant image; and wherein overlapping each of saidsegments in a predetermined orientation combines at least two of saidsubsections to form at least one of said resultant images.
 17. Anapparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of said segments has atleast two sides; and wherein said segments are positioned such that afirst side of each of said segments face a same direction.
 18. Anapparatus according to claim 16, wherein a first side of said segmentsincludes a first of said subsections of a first of said resultantimages; and wherein a second side of said segments includes a second ofsaid subsections of a second of said resultant images.
 19. An apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein at least one of said segments is at leastone of the group consisting of a card, a traditional playing card, aspecialty card, a flash card, and a trivia card.
 20. An apparatusaccording to claim 16, said apparatus further comprising: at least onesupport for supporting at least one of said segments.
 21. An apparatusaccording to claim 20, wherein at least one of the group consisting ofsaid segments and said support are magnetic.
 22. An apparatus accordingto claim 20, wherein said support is rotatable.
 23. An apparatusaccording to claim 20, wherein said support is one of the groupconsisting of a plate, a stand, a slit, and a slit wall.
 24. Anapparatus according to claim 20, said apparatus further comprising: atleast one post; wherein said post protrudes from said support; whereinat least one of said segments includes at least one segment aperture;wherein passing said segment apertures over said post mounts saidsegments atop said support; and wherein said mounting of said segmentaids a player with at least one of the group consisting of overlappingsaid segments, orienting said segments, and affixing said segments tosaid support.
 25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein passing afirst of said segment apertures over said post allows said segments tobe mounted atop said support such that a first side faces away from saidsupport; and wherein passing a second of said segment apertures oversaid post allows said segments to be mounted atop said support such thatsaid first side faces toward said support.
 26. An apparatus according toclaim 24, wherein passing a first of said segment apertures over saidpost allows said segments to be mounted atop said support such that afirst of said subsections of said segments is visible in said resultantimage; and wherein passing a second of said segment apertures over saidpost allows said segments to be mounted atop said support such that asecond of said subsections of said segments is visible in said resultantimage.
 27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said portion ofsaid segment that does not include said first and second subsections isan obscured portion of said segment.
 28. An apparatus according to claim27, wherein said obscured portion of said segments includes at least oneof the group consisting of a blank area, a face of a traditional playingcard, a face of a specialty card, a trivia card, and a flash card. 29.An apparatus according to claim 20, said apparatus further comprising: aplurality of posts; and a plurality of segment apertures bored throughsaid segments; wherein a first post protrudes from a first of saidsupports; wherein passing segment apertures of a first set of segmentsover said first post mounts said first set of segments atop said firstsupport; wherein at least one of a second of said supports is removablymountable atop said first post such that said second support supports asecond tier of said segments; wherein a second post protrudes from saidsecond support; wherein passing segment apertures of a second set ofsegments over said second post mounts said second set of segments atopsaid second support; wherein passing said segment apertures over saidfirst and second posts aids a player with at least one of the groupconsisting of overlapping said first and second set of segments,orienting said first and second set of segments, and affixing said firstand second set of segments; and wherein said apparatus is multi-tiered.30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said segments mounted tosaid first support are assembled in a first direction; and wherein saidsegments mounted to said second support are assembled in a seconddirection.
 31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said firstdirection is clockwise and said second direction is counterclockwise.32. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first direction iscounterclockwise and said second direction is clockwise.
 33. Anapparatus according to claim 24, wherein said segment aperture is codedto aid a player in assembling at least one of said resultant images. 34.An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said coding of said segmentaperture is color coding.
 35. An apparatus according to claim 20, saidapparatus further comprising: at least one recess located in saidsupport for providing at least one of said segments with at least one ofthe group consisting of an anchor point, a brace, a frame, and anorientation guide.
 36. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein saidrecess is configured to allow said segments to be positioned in at leasttwo orientations within said recesses.
 37. An apparatus according toclaim 36, wherein said at least two orientations include at least one ofthe group consisting of a horizontal orientation and a verticalorientation.
 38. An apparatus according to claim 35, said apparatusfurther comprising: at least one recess lip located in said recess forproviding at least one of said segments with at least one of the groupconsisting of support and positioning.
 39. An apparatus according toclaim 35, wherein each of said recesses is progressively shallower thana preceding one of said recesses.
 40. An apparatus according to claim20, said apparatus further comprising: at least one suspensionmechanism; wherein said suspension mechanism allows said apparatus to besuspended.
 41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein saidsuspension mechanism is an aperture contained within said support. 42.An apparatus according to claim 16, said apparatus further comprising:at least one locking device for rendering at least one of said segmentsimmovable.
 43. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said lockingdevice is at least one of the group consisting of a knob, a stop,compressive stress, friction, and a cap.
 44. An apparatus according toclaim 42, said apparatus further comprising: at least one locking devicelip located in said locking device for providing at least one of saidsegments with at least one of the group consisting of support andpositioning.
 45. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein saidlocking device is at least one of the group consisting of a knob and astop; and wherein tightening of said locking device to a longitudinalend of said post renders at least one of said segments immovable.
 46. Anapparatus according to claim 45, wherein said locking device and saidpost are inversely threaded.
 47. An apparatus according to claim 45,wherein said stop includes at least one radial surface; and whereinproper positioning of said stop atop said at least one segment mountedon said support allows at least one of said radial surfaces to supportat least one of said segments.
 48. An apparatus according to claim 45,wherein said stop includes at least one stop aperture for passing saidstop over said post; and wherein proper positioning of said stop atopsaid at least one segment mounted to said support aids in maintainingsaid at least one segment in an immovable state.
 49. An apparatusaccording to claim 45, wherein said stop includes at least one recessfor providing at least one of said segments with at least one of thegroup consisting of an anchor point, a brace, a frame, and anorientation guide.
 50. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein amaterial of at least one of the group consisting of said stop and saidknob is at least one of the group consisting of rubber and a transparentmaterial.
 51. An apparatus according to claim 16, said apparatus furthercomprising: at least one stand; wherein said stand allows said apparatusto be supported on a horizontal surface; and wherein said stand is atleast one of the group consisting of an integral stand and a removablestand.
 52. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one sideof said segments is at least one of the group consisting ofpartially-figured and fully-figured.
 53. An apparatus according to claim16, wherein at least a portion of said segments includes at least oneobscured section; and wherein said obscured sections are not visible insaid resultant image.
 54. An apparatus according to claim 53, whereinsaid obscured sections include at least one of the group consisting of ablank area, a face of a traditional playing card, a face of a specialtycard, and a flash card.
 55. An apparatus according to claim 53, whereinsaid apparatus includes fifty-two segments; wherein said segments areshaped as playing cards; and wherein each of said obscured sections ofsaid fifty-two segments corresponds to each one of fifty-two faces of atraditional deck of said playing cards.
 56. An apparatus according toclaim 53, wherein said apparatus includes fifty-four segments; whereinsaid segments are shaped as playing cards; wherein each of said obscuredsections of fifty-two of said segments corresponds to each one offifty-two faces of a traditional deck of said playing cards; and whereinat least one of the group consisting of said obscured portion and a fullside of two of said segments are jokers.
 57. An apparatus according toclaim 20, said apparatus further comprising: at least one extensioncoupled to said support; wherein said extension encircles at least aportion of at least one of said segments and provides support for atleast one of said segments.
 58. An apparatus according to claim 57, saidapparatus further comprising: at least one extension recess in saidextension for providing at least one of said segments with at least oneof the group consisting of an anchor point, a brace, a frame, and anorientation guide.
 59. An apparatus according to claim 58, wherein saidextension recesses are configured to allow said segments to bepositioned in at least two orientations within said extension recesses.60. An apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said at least twoorientations include at least one of the group consisting of ahorizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.
 61. An apparatusaccording to claim 58, said apparatus further comprising: at least oneextension recess lip in said extension recess for providing at least oneof said segments with at least one of the group consisting of supportand positioning.
 62. An apparatus according to claim 61, wherein each ofat least a portion of said extension recesses is progressively shallowerthan a preceding one of said extension recesses.
 63. An apparatusaccording to claim 16, said apparatus further comprising: a signalingdevice for notifying at least one player of at least one of the groupconsisting of at least one positioned segment is in an incorrectposition, at least one of said positioned segments is in an incorrectorientation, at least one of said positioned segments is in a correctposition, at least one of said positioned segments is in a correctorientation, all of said positioned segments are in said correctpositions, all of said positioned segments are in said correctorientations, a last of said positioned segments is in said correctposition, said last of said positioned segments is in said incorrectposition, said last of said positioned segments is in said correctorientation, said last of said positioned segments is in said incorrectorientation, a variation in at least one rule of a game, a change inturns from a first player to a second player, and an end of said game;wherein an occurrence of said notification of said player is at leastone of the group consisting of automatic initiation and manualinitiation.
 64. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said manualinitiation occurs via activation of at least one of the group consistingof a button and a trigger.
 65. An apparatus according to claim 63,wherein said signaling device is at least one of the group consisting ofa steady light, a flashing light, a single instantaneous sound, acontinuous sound, a repeating sound, and a vibration of a portion ofsaid apparatus.
 66. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein pointsare tallied based upon at least one of said notifications of saidsignaling device.
 67. An apparatus according to claim 63, wherein saidsegments contain at least one of the group consisting of an electronicimprint and a magnetic imprint; wherein at least one of said supportscontains at least one sensor for reading said imprints of said segments;and wherein at least one result of at least one of said readings of saidimprints provides data to said signaling device.
 68. An apparatusaccording to claim 67, wherein at least one of said magnetic sensors islocated within at least one recess of said support.
 69. An apparatusaccording to claim 67, wherein said data is at least one of the groupconsisting of at least one of said positioned segments is in saidincorrect position, at least one of said positioned segments is in saidincorrect orientation, all of said positioned segments are in saidcorrect positions, all of said positioned segments are in said correctorientations, said last of said positioned segments is in said correctposition, said last of said positioned segments is in said incorrectposition, said last of said positioned segments is in said correctorientation, and said last of said positioned segments is in saidincorrect orientation.
 70. An apparatus according to claim 16, whereinsaid resultant image has a configuration of at least one of the groupconsisting of circular, semicircular, varied, square, rectangular,heart-shaped, clover-shaped, animal-shaped, star-shaped, andmulti-tiered.
 71. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at leastone of said supports has a configuration of at least one of the groupconsisting of circular, semicircular, varied, square, rectangular,heart-shaped, clover-shaped, animal-shaped, star-shaped, andmulti-tiered.
 72. An apparatus according to claim 20, said apparatusfurther comprising: at least one cover for protecting said segments froman environment.
 73. An apparatus according to claim 20, said apparatusfurther comprising: at least one adapter removably attachable to saidsupport; wherein said segments are assembled in a first orientation uponsaid support when said adaptor is not attached to said support; andwherein said segments are assembled in a second orientation upon saidsupport when said adaptor is attached to said support.
 74. An apparatusaccording to claim 73, wherein said first orientation is a verticalorientation and said second orientation is a horizontal orientation. 75.An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said segments include atleast one standardized edge.
 76. An apparatus according to claim 75,wherein a first of said segments is matched to a second of said segmentsalong at least one of said standardized edges.
 77. An apparatusaccording to claim 16, said apparatus further comprising: at least twoanchor points for supporting at least one of said segments.
 78. Anapparatus according to claim 77, wherein said anchor points include atleast one of the group consisting of a locking device, a recess, and anextension recess.
 79. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein all ofsaid at least two segments are full-figured; wherein any one of saidsegments may be positioned as a base segment; and wherein said resultantimage varies in relation to said segment positioned as said basesegment.
 80. An apparatus according to claim 79, wherein said resultantimage rotates in at least one of the group consisting of a clockwisedirection and a counterclockwise direction upon a change in said segmentpositioned as said base segment.
 81. An apparatus according to claim 20,wherein said support is linear.
 82. An apparatus according to claim 81,said apparatus further comprising: a plurality of slits within saidsupport for insertion of said segments; wherein said support has anelliptical contour; and wherein said elliptical contour of said supportcauses each of a first of said segments to exert pressure upon each of asecond of said segments located leftward of said first segment.
 83. Anapparatus according to claim 81, said apparatus further comprising: aplurality of slits within said support for insertion of said segments;wherein a size of said slits holds said segments in said slits viacompressive stress.
 84. A game apparatus comprising: at least twosegments; wherein said segments include at least two subsections of atleast two resultant images; wherein overlapping each of said segments ina first of a plurality of predetermined orientations combines a first ofsaid subsections to form a first resultant image; and whereinoverlapping each of said segments in a second of a plurality ofpredetermined orientations combines a second of said subsections to forma second resultant image.
 85. A method for playing a game comprising:selecting a base segment having a base image thereupon; matching a firstintermediate image of a first intermediate segment selected from aplurality of said intermediate images of a plurality of saidintermediate segments with said base image by overlapping said firstintermediate segment with said base segment; consecutively matching eachof all remaining of said intermediate images of all remaining of saidplurality of said intermediate segments with a previously matched one ofsaid intermediate images of a previously matched one of saidintermediate segments by overlapping a current one of said remainingplurality of said intermediate segments with said previously matchedintermediate segment; and matching a topmost image of a topmost segmentwith a last matched one of said intermediate images of a last matchedone of said intermediate segments by overlapping said topmost segmentwith said last matched intermediate segment; wherein visible portions ofsaid base image, said intermediate images, and said topmost imagecombine to form at least one resultant image.
 86. A method according toclaim 85, wherein each of said base, intermediate, and topmost segmentshas at least two sides; and wherein each of said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments are positioned such that a first side of each of saidbase, intermediate, and topmost segments face a same direction.
 87. Amethod according to claim 85, wherein a first side of each of said base,intermediate, and topmost segments includes a first of said base,intermediate, and topmost images, respectively, of a first of saidresultant images; and wherein a second side each of said base,intermediate, and topmost segments includes a second of said base,intermediate, and topmost images, respectively, of a second of saidresultant images.
 88. A method according to claim 85, wherein at leastone of said base, intermediate, and topmost segments is at least one ofthe group consisting of a card, a traditional playing card, a specialtycard, a flash card, and a trivia card.
 89. A method according to claim85, said method further comprising: mounting said base, intermediate,and topmost segments on at least one support.
 90. A method according toclaim 89, wherein at least one of the group consisting of said basesegments, said intermediate segments, said topmost segments, and saidsupports are magnetic.
 91. A method according to claim 89, wherein saidsupport is rotatable.
 92. A method according to claim 89, wherein saidsupport is one of the group consisting of a plate, a stand, a slit, anda slit wall.
 93. A method according to claim 89, said method furthercomprising: passing at least one segment aperture bored through at leastone of the group consisting of said base segment, said intermediatesegment, and said topmost segment over at least one post protruding fromat least one support; wherein said passing of said segment aperture oversaid post aids a player with at least one of the group consisting ofoverlapping said base, intermediate, and topmost segments, orientingsaid base, intermediate, and topmost segments, and affixing said base,intermediate, and topmost segments to said support.
 94. A methodaccording to claim 93, wherein passing a first of said segment aperturesover said post allows said base, intermediate, and topmost segments tobe mounted atop said support such that a first side faces away from saidsupport; and wherein passing a second of said segment apertures oversaid post allows said base, intermediate, and topmost segments to bemounted atop said support such that said first side faces toward saidsupport.
 95. A method according to claim 93, wherein passing a first ofsaid segment apertures over said post allows said base, intermediate,and topmost segments to be mounted atop said support such that at leasta portion of a first of said base, intermediate, and topmost images ofsaid base, intermediate, and topmost segments is visible in saidresultant image; and wherein passing a second of said segment aperturesover said post allows said base, intermediate, and topmost segments tobe mounted atop said support such that at least a portion of a second ofsaid base, intermediate, and topmost images of said base, intermediate,and topmost segments is visible in said resultant image.
 96. A methodaccording to claim 95, wherein said portion of said base, intermediate,and topmost segments that does not include said first and second base,intermediate, and topmost images is an obscured portion of said base,intermediate, and topmost segments.
 97. A method according to claim 96,wherein said obscured portion of said base, intermediate, and topmostsegments includes at least one of the group consisting of a blank area,a face of a traditional playing card, a face of a specialty card, atrivia card, and a flash card.
 98. A method according to claim 89, saidmethod further comprising: passing segment apertures bored through afirst set of said base, intermediate, and topmost segments over a firstpost protruding from a first of said supports; mounting a second of saidsupports to said first post; and passing segment apertures bored througha second set of said base, intermediate, and topmost segments over asecond post protruding from said second support; wherein passing saidsegment apertures over said first post and said second post aids aplayer with at least one of the group consisting of overlapping saidfirst and second sets of base, intermediate, and topmost segments,orienting said first and second sets of base, intermediate, and topmostsegments, and affixing said first and second sets of base, intermediate,and topmost segments to said first and second supports.
 99. A methodaccording to claim 98, wherein said base, intermediate, and topmostsegments mounted to said first support are assembled in a firstdirection; and wherein said base, intermediate, and topmost segmentsmounted to said second support are assembled in a second direction. 100.A method according to claim 99, wherein said first direction isclockwise and said second direction is counterclockwise.
 101. A methodaccording to claim 99, wherein said first direction is counterclockwiseand said second direction is clockwise.
 102. A method according to claim93, wherein said segment aperture is coded to aid a player in assemblingat least one of said resultant images.
 103. A method according to claim102, wherein said coding of said segment aperture is color coding. 104.A method according to claim 89, said method further comprising:performing at least one of the group consisting of anchoring, bracing,framing, and orienting at least one of said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments by placing at least a portion of said base,intermediate, and topmost segments into a recess in said support.
 105. Amethod according to claim 104, wherein said recess is configured toallow said base, intermediate, and topmost segments to be positioned inat least two orientations within said recesses.
 106. A method accordingto claim 105, wherein said at least two orientations include at leastone of the group consisting of a horizontal orientation and a verticalorientation.
 107. A method according to claim 104, said method furthercomprising: aligning at least one of said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments such that at least one edge of said base, intermediate,and topmost segments is contiguous with at least one surface of at leastone lip located within said recess.
 108. A method according to claim104, wherein each of said recesses is progressively shallower than apreceding one of said recesses.
 109. A method according to claim 89,said method further comprising: suspending said support via a suspensionmechanism.
 110. A method according to claim 89, wherein said suspensionmechanism is an aperture contained within said support.
 111. A methodaccording to claim 85, said method further comprising: activating atleast one locking device to render at least one of said base,intermediate, and topmost segments immovable.
 112. A method according toclaim 111, wherein said locking device is at least one of the groupconsisting of a knob, a stop, compressive stress, friction, and a cap.113. A method according to claim 111, wherein said locking deviceincludes at least one locking device lip for providing at least one ofsaid base, intermediate, and topmost segments with at least one of thegroup consisting of support and positioning.
 114. A method according toclaim 111, wherein said locking device is at least one of the groupconsisting of a knob and a stop; and wherein tightening of said lockingdevice to a longitudinal end of said post renders at least one of saidbase, intermediate, and topmost segments immovable.
 115. A methodaccording to claim 114, wherein said locking device and said post areinversely threaded.
 116. A method according to claim 114, wherein saidstop includes at least one radial surface; and wherein properpositioning of said stop atop said at least one base, intermediate, andtopmost segment mounted on said support allows at least one of saidradial surfaces to support at least one of said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments.
 117. A method according to claim 114, wherein saidstop includes at least one stop aperture for passing said stop over saidpost; and wherein proper positioning of said stop atop said at least onebase, intermediate, and topmost segment mounted to said support aids inmaintaining said at least one base, intermediate, and topmost segment inan immovable state.
 118. A method according to claim 114, wherein saidstop includes at least one recess for providing at least one of saidbase, intermediate, and topmost segments with at least one of the groupconsisting of an anchor point, a brace, a frame, and an orientationguide.
 119. A method according to claim 114, wherein a material of atleast one of the group consisting of said stop and said knob is at leastone of the group consisting of rubber and a transparent material.
 120. Amethod according to claim 85, said method further comprising: displayingsaid support via at least one stand; wherein said stand allows saidapparatus to be supported on a horizontal surface; and wherein saidstand is at least one of the group consisting of an integral stand and aremovable stand.
 121. A method according to claim 85, wherein at leastone side of said base, intermediate, and topmost segments is at leastone of the group consisting of partially-figured and fully-figured. 122.A method according to claim 85, wherein at least a portion of said base,intermediate, and topmost segments includes at least one obscuredsection; and wherein said obscured sections are not visible in saidresultant image.
 123. A method according to claim 122, wherein saidobscured sections include at least one of the group consisting of ablank area, a face of a traditional playing card, a face of a specialtycard, and a flash card.
 124. A method according to claim 89, said methodfurther comprising: supporting at least one of said base, intermediate,and topmost segments via an extension coupled to said support; whereinsaid extension encircles at least a portion of at least one of saidbase, intermediate, and topmost segments and provides support for atleast one of said base, intermediate, and topmost segments.
 125. Amethod according to claim 124, said method further comprising:performing at least one of the group consisting of anchoring, bracing,framing, and orienting at least one of said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments by placing at least a portion of said base,intermediate, and topmost segments into a recess in said extensioncoupled to said support; wherein said extension encircles at least aportion of at least one of said base, intermediate, and topmost segmentsand provides support for at least one of said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments.
 126. A method according to claim 125, wherein saidextension recesses are configured to allow said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments to be positioned in at least two orientations withinsaid extension recesses.
 127. A method according to claim 126, whereinsaid at least two orientations include at least one of the groupconsisting of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation. 128.A method according to claim 125, said method further comprising:aligning at least one of said base, intermediate, and topmost segmentssuch that at least one edge of said base, intermediate, and topmostsegments is contiguous with at least one surface of at least one liplocated within said extension recess.
 129. A method according to claim128, wherein each of at least a portion of said extension recesses isprogressively shallower than a preceding one of said extension recesses.130. A method according to claim 85, said method further comprising:receiving notification from a signaling device of at least one of thegroup consisting of at least one positioned base, intermediate, andtopmost segment is in an incorrect position, at least one of saidpositioned base, intermediate, and topmost segments is in an incorrectorientation, at least one of said positioned base, intermediate, andtopmost segments is in a correct position, at least one of saidpositioned base, intermediate, and topmost segments is in a correctorientation, all of said positioned base, intermediate, and topmostsegments are in said correct positions, all of said positioned base,intermediate, and topmost segments are in said correct orientations, alast of said positioned base, intermediate, and topmost segments is insaid correct position, said last of said positioned base, intermediate,and topmost segments is in said incorrect position, said last of saidpositioned base, intermediate, and topmost segments is in said correctorientation, said last of said positioned base, intermediate, andtopmost segments is in said incorrect orientation, a variation in atleast one rule of a game, a change in turns from a first player to asecond player, and an end of said game; wherein said receiving occursupon at least one of the group consisting of automatic initiation andmanual initiation.
 131. A method according to claim 130, wherein saidmanual initiation occurs via activation of at least one of the groupconsisting of a button and a trigger.
 132. A method according to claim130, wherein said signaling device is at least one of the groupconsisting of a steady light, a flashing light, a single instantaneoussound, a continuous sound, a repeating sound, and a vibration of aportion of said apparatus.
 133. A method according to claim 130, whereinpoints are tallied based upon at least one of said notifications of saidsignaling device.
 134. A method according to claim 130, wherein saidbase, intermediate, and topmost segments contain at least one of thegroup consisting of an electronic imprint and a magnetic imprint;wherein at least one of said supports contains at least one sensor forreading said imprints of said base, intermediate, and topmost segments;and wherein at least one result of at least one of said readings of saidimprints provides data to said signaling device.
 135. A method accordingto claim 134, wherein at least one of said magnetic sensors is locatedwithin at least one recess of said support.
 136. A method according toclaim 134, wherein said data is at least one of the group consisting ofat least one of said positioned base, intermediate, and topmost segmentsis in said incorrect position, at least one of said positioned base,intermediate, and topmost segments is in said incorrect orientation, allof said positioned base, intermediate, and topmost segments are in saidcorrect positions, all of said positioned base, intermediate, andtopmost segments are in said correct orientations, said last of saidpositioned base, intermediate, and topmost segments is in said correctposition, said last of said positioned base, intermediate, and topmostsegments is in said incorrect position, said last of said positionedbase, intermediate, and topmost segments is in said correct orientation,and said last of said positioned base, intermediate, and topmostsegments is in said incorrect orientation.
 137. A method according toclaim 85, wherein said resultant image has a configuration of at leastone of the group consisting of circular, semicircular, varied, square,rectangular, heart-shaped, clover-shaped, animal-shaped, star-shaped,and multi-tiered.
 138. A method according to claim 89, wherein at leastone of said supports has a configuration of at least one of the groupconsisting of circular, semicircular, varied, square, rectangular,heart-shaped, clover-shaped, animal-shaped, star-shaped, andmulti-tiered.
 139. A method according to claim 89, said method furthercomprising: attaching at least one cover to said support to protectingsaid base, intermediate, and topmost segments from an environment. 140.A method according to claim 89, said method further comprising:assembling said base, intermediate, and topmost segments in a firstorientation upon said support when an adaptor is not attached to saidsupport; and assembling said base, intermediate, and topmost segments ina first orientation upon said support when an adaptor is attached tosaid support.
 141. A method according to claim 140, wherein said firstorientation is a vertical orientation and said second orientation is ahorizontal orientation.
 142. A method according to claim 85, whereinsaid base, intermediate, and topmost segments include at least onestandardized edge.
 143. A method according to claim 142, wherein a firstof said base, intermediate, and topmost segments is matched to a secondof said base, intermediate, and topmost segments along at least one ofsaid standardized edges.
 144. A method according to claim 85, saidmethod further comprising: anchoring said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments to at least one support in at least two distinct anchorpoints.
 145. A method according to claim 144, wherein said anchor pointsinclude at least one of the group consisting of a locking device, arecess, and an extension recess.
 146. A method according to claim 85,wherein all of said at least two base, intermediate, and topmostsegments are full-figured; wherein any one of said base, intermediate,and topmost segments may be positioned as a base segment; and whereinsaid resultant image varies in relation to said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments positioned as said base segment.
 147. A methodaccording to claim 146, wherein said resultant image rotates in at leastone of the group consisting of a clockwise direction and acounterclockwise direction upon a change in said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments positioned as said base segment.
 148. A methodaccording to claim 89, wherein said support is linear.
 149. A methodaccording to claim 148, said method further comprising: a plurality ofslits within said support for insertion of said base, intermediate, andtopmost segments; wherein said support has an elliptical contour; andwherein said elliptical contour of said support causes each of a firstof said base, intermediate, and topmost segments to exert pressure uponeach of a second of said base, intermediate, and topmost segmentslocated leftward of said first segment.
 150. A method according to claim148, said method further comprising: a plurality of slits within saidsupport for insertion of said base, intermediate, and topmost segments;wherein a size of said slits holds said base, intermediate, and topmostsegments in said slits via compressive stress.